Cape Coast, March 12, GNA- Apam Secondary School successfully defended the girls' athletics trophy for the eighth time running after bagging 128 points to place first at the 14th annual Central Regional inter schools athletics championship, which ended at Cape Coast on Thursday.

Wesley Girls High School placed second with 78.5 points, Holy Child school came third with 65.5 points and Mfantsiman Girls' fourth with 33 points.

Mankessim secondary technical school girls took the fifth position with 25 points followed by Ghana National College at the seventh position with 18 points and Agona Nyakrom Secondary girls placed eighth with 17.5 points.

In the boys' division, St. Augustine's College also successfully defended the boys' trophy when they bagged 124 points followed by Mfantsipim with 76 points with Apam Secondary placing third with 54 points while Cape Coast Technical Institute came fourth with 51 points. Asuansi Technical Institute took the fifth position with 40 points, Adisadel College sixth with 34 points, Swedru School of Business seventh with 31 points and Boa Amponsem Secondary bagged 24 points to take the eighth position.

Ernest Arhin Sam, of Asuansi Technical Institute, who was declared the best athlete in the boys division, equalled the national high jump record with a leap of two metres to break the inter-schools record of 1.94 metres set in 1965.

He also won the triple jump, pole vault and long jump events. Faustina Yankson of Apam Secondary was declared the best girl athlete after winning the 800 metres, 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres races.

Cash prizes, certificates and trophies were presented to deserving schools and athletes.

In her closing remarks, the Regional Director of Education, Mrs Justina Torjagbo, commended Apam secondary school for winning the girls' championship trophy for the eighth time.

She also commended all the athletes and their supporters for their sportsmanship during the competition and hoped the performance of the athletes at the competition would enable the region to retain the national championship trophy.

She however cautioned that this could only be achieved through discipline, hard work, being punctual at training and respecting and taking instructions of their trainers.